Nebraska church helps tornado victims recover

Nebraska families affected by June tornados are getting help in the form of new box springs, mattress and appliances.

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By The Associated Press

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By The Associated Press

Posted Aug. 6, 2014 at 3:46 PM

By The Associated Press

Posted Aug. 6, 2014 at 3:46 PM

PILGER, Neb.

Nebraska families affected by June tornados are getting help in the form of new box springs, mattress and appliances.

The effort was coordinated by members of the Norfolk Church of Christ, who applied for the combination of 90 items and delivered them to 49 families in Pilger. Donations were provided by Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Inc., a Nashville-based organization that responds to natural disasters throughout the country.

The Norfolk church also offered immediate help to tornado victims by setting up a relief center. Within two days after the storm, it was stocked with $90,000 in supplies. The relief center handed out hundreds of meal, infant care and personal hygiene kits. It also gave away clothing, linens, household items and cleaning supplies.

“We had the warehouse set up for people to stop in and get supplies, but we also loaded a truck up and went around the city with supplies and cold water to hand out and to communicate where we were located so they could get more,” said Jeff Schipper, minister of Norfolk Church of Christ.

He said one member of the church also rented a trailer to take some of the supplies to Coleridge so aid was also provided to tornado victims in Cedar County.

Schipper said he felt grateful that he and members of the church were in the position to help so many people.

“So many in Pilger talked about how moving and encouraging it was for them to see people from this area and from around the country there to help them,” he said. “Not only did the volunteering lift their spirits, but it also made short work of the daunting task of the initial cleanup. It would have taken generations for Pilger to clean up on its own.”